Quality of Life Comparison

If you lived in Guyana instead of United States, you would:

be 44.2% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people.

live 11.4 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women). In Guyana, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 72 years for women).

Economy

make 86.2% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $59,500, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $8,200.

be 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 4.4% of adults are unemployed. In Guyana, that number is 11.1%.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0%.

Life

have 23.2% more children

In United States, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people. In Guyana, there are 15.4 babies per 1,000 people.

be 16.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 14.0 women per 1,000 births die during labor. In Guyana, 229.0 women do.

be 5.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.8 children die before they reach the age of one. In Guyana, on the other hand, 30.4 children do.

Basic Needs

be 21.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In United States, 100% of the population has electricity access. In Guyana, 79% of the population do.

be 53.1% less likely to have internet access

In United States, approximately 76.2% of the population has internet access. In Guyana, about 35.7% do.

Expenditures

spend 36.0% less on education

United States spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education. Guyana spends 3.2% of total GDP on education.

spend 69.6% less on healthcare

United States spends 17.1% of its total GDP on healthcare. In Guyana, that number is 5.2% of GDP.

Geography

see 97.7% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.

How big is Guyana compared to United States?
See an in-depth size comparison.